Tag: tommy shaw

This is Tommy’s third solo album, released in ’87. All the songs were written by Tommy and producer Terry Thomas, except Ever Since The World Began which was written by Survivor’s Jim Peterick and Frankie Sullivan, and was released as a single but only managed to reach #75.

It’s a pleasant enough AOR album with maybe three great tracks: No Such Thing, Love You Too Much, and my favourite Are You Ready For Me. They all have great melodies and earworm choruses, and are great radio tracks. This is what I call a producer’s record. The kitchen sink has been thrown at this record (technically speaking) and it does sound good, but maybe the emphasis should have been more on the songs. The guitar is well down in the mix on a lot of the songs and well, Tommy is known as a guitar player.

It’s a pleasant enough record and maybe I’m being a bit tough here as it does sound super clear.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

The problems with Styx are well documented, and especially with Tommy Shaw. He felt he was being pushed more into the background as De Young took more control. Tommy channeled that frustration into collaborations with Damn Yankees and Shaw/Blades, and three solo albums in which this was the first.

On the whole, this is a great pop rock with a couple of Styx style ballads thrown into the mix. The title track and lead off track is a great power pop romp and a great song. Come In And Explain has a big rock and big riff opening and reminds me of Billy Squier. Heads Up is a typical 80’s pop song. Fading Away has very funky Toto groove and feel. Little Girl World is the most Styx sounding song on the album with lots of vocal harmonies.

Not a bad album. It sounds very of it’s time and the Mike Stone production is crystal clear.

8/10 from The Grooveman.